2011 National High School Finals Rodeo Wraps Up
Gillette, WY
By Mike Hausmann
Special To Ropers Sports News
After 13 performances of amazing rodeo action, new champions were crowned at the 63rd Annual National High School Finals rodeo (NHSFR) on Satuday, July 23rd in Gillette, Wyoming. A total of 1,461 students from the United States, Canada, and Australia competed in this year’s NHSFR. Performances were featured throughout the week of July 17th, with the top 20 athletes in each event qualifying for the championship round on July 23rd.
Event champions and All-Around winners include:
All-Around Cowboy — Garrett Smith, Rexburg, Idaho.
All-Around Cowgirl — McKenna Wagner, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.
Bareback Riding — Blaine Kaufman, Pretty Prairie, Kansas.
Barrel Racing — Rachel Primm, Washoe Valley, Nevada.
Breakaway Roping — Brandi Hollenbeck, Hutchinson, Kansas.
Bull Riding — Tyler Bingham, Honeyville, Utah.
Tie-Down Roping — Garrison Cannon, St. George, Utah.
Boys Cutting — Hunter Hightower, Bluff Dale, Texas.
Girls Cutting — Paige Hadlock, Ogden, Utah.
Goat Tying — Hayden Segelke, Snyder, Colorado.
Pole Bending — Heather Hasseler, Madisonville, Texas.
Saddle Bronc Riding — Shane Etbauer, Goodwell, Oklahoms.
Steer Wrestling — Noah Lassas, Merrill, Wisconsin.
Team Roping — Marcus Banister, Brighton, Colorado and Brit Ellerman, Fort Lupton, Colorado.
NHSRA All Around Cowboy Garrett Smith, left, of Rexburg, Idaho, and All Around Cowgirl McKenna Wagner of Broken Arrow, Okla.
Courtesy NHSRA / David Jennings Photography
In addition, the state of Texas took top team honors at this year’s NHSFR with Utah, Oklahoma, Idaho and New Mexico rounding out the top five. Dakota Passey of Alberta was also crowned the new 2011-2012 NHSRA Queen. Passey is the first Albertan to win the title since Trish Kostelansky won the coveted crown in 1985. A comprehensive list of results and final overall standings may be found by visiting www.nhsra.org or by visiting www.nhsra.ihigh.com and clicking the appropriate links along the left-hand column.
For more information on the NHSFR and the National High School Rodeo Association, contact NHSRA Media Director, Mike Hausmann at mike@nhsra.org.
The National High School Rodeo Association is one of the fastest growing youth organizations in the nation, with an annual membership of over 12,500 students from 41 states, five Canadian provinces and Australia. The Association sanctioins over 1,100 rodeos each year. The NHSRA is goverened by a national board of directors which consists of one member from each staet or province. A staff at the national headquarters in Denver, Colorado, handles the day-to-day operations. For more information on the NHSRA, visit the association’s official website located at www.nhsra.org.
